Drawbench



R. J. MYoT'rE 3,029,930

DRAwBENcH 7 Sheets-Sheet l wmlmmk IN VEN TOR. ROBERT .1. MYoTTEATTORNEYS o E. om. w on S/ 2 mtg April 17, 1962 Filed MaICh 5l, 1959April 17, 1962 R- J- MYOTTE- 3,029,930

DRAWBENCH Filed March 31, 1959 7 sheets-sheet 2 FIG. 2

FIG. 3

JNVENToR." ROBERT J. MYOTTE Apnl 17, 1962 R, J. MYOTTE 3,029,930

DRAWBENCH Filed March 5l, 1959 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 lH12 m/ ROBERT J.MYoTTE April 17, 1962 R. J. MYOTTE 3,029,930

UALWTMM@ ATTORNEYS April 17, 1962 R' J MYOTTE 3,029,930

DRAWBENCH Filed March 3l, 1959 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 N .OE i .l

R. J. MYOTTE April 17, 1962 DRAWBENCH '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 3l,1959 INVENTOR. ROBERT J. MYOTTE AQJL ATTORNEYS April 17, 1962 R. J.MYoTTE 3,029,930V

DRAWBENCH Filed March 5l, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 'T Flc. 3 4

FIG. I4

9| INVENTOR. ROBERT J. MYOTTE ATTORNEYS United States yPatent 3,029,930DRAWBENCH Robert J. Myotte, 19431 Ormiston Ave., Euclid, Ohio Filed Mar.31, 1959, Ser. No. 803,295 7 Claims. (Cl. 205-3) 'Ihis invention relatesto drawbenches, and in particular to improvements in means fortraversing a drawbench carriage to and from the diestand end of thedrawbench.

In order to render drawbenches more eilicient, it has been proposedheretofore to employ two carriages in such relationship that as a rstcarriage is drawing stock through the diestand, a second carriage isreturning toward the diestand so as to be positioned in readiness todraw stock as soon as the irst drawing operation is completed. Thisarrangement of two carriages eliminates retraversing time loss which isinherent in one carriage-type drawbenches. Many proposals have beenadvanced for traversing a pair or" carriages in opposite directions insuch a manner as to avoid interference one with the other. Thus, it hasbeen proposed to station elevators at opposite ends of the drawbench totransport a carriage from one level of travel to a second level oftravel; various complex track shifting arrangements have also beensuggested; and many other arrangements are disclosed in the prior art,all of which are objectionable among other reasons because of thecomplexity of their structures.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a drawbenchhaving improved and novel means for traversing a pair of drawbenchcarriages in opposite directions during a drawing cycle of operation; toprovide a drawbench having a simple track system for supporting andtraversing a drawbench carriage to and from the diestand; the provisionof a drawbench having a simple but etlicient anti-recoil means forintercepting drawn stock and preventing whiplashing which sometimesoccurs when the tension in drawn stock is suddenly released at the endof its drawing cycle; and the provision of a drawbench having adrawbench carriage of novel construction adapted to coact with a noveltrack system for providing the traversing of a pair of draw-benchcarriages in opposite directions during a drawing cycle of operation.

The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself,however, both as to its organization and use, together with furtherobjects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference tothe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FEGURES l and 1A comprise a single schematic side elevational view of apreferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary and elevation 'taken on the line 2-2of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 2,but with anti-recoil means revolved 90;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE1A;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side elevation view of a preferred embodiment ofthe drawbench carriage;

FIGURE 6 is a plan View of the drawbench carriage shown in FIGURE 5',

FIGURE 7 is an end elevational view of the drawbench carriage shown inFIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view in elevation taken on the line8 8 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view in elevation taken on the line9-9 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE l0 is a `fragmentary sectional View in elevation showing aresilient anti-recoil member in contact with the drawbench carriage;

3,@Z930 Patented Apr. 17, 1952 FIGURE 11 is a schematic perspective viewof one of a plurality of anti-recoil devices stationed beneath thedrawbench to intercept drawn workstock and to prevent re-coil thereof;

FIGURE l2 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of anotherarrangement of the ant-recoil device Shown in FIGURE l1;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional elevational view of yet another arrangement ofthe anti-recoil device shown in FIG- URE 1l; and,

FIGURE 14 is a side elevational View of the anti-recoil device shown inFIGURE 13 taken on line 14-14.

Reference will now be made to the gures in greater detail and at theoutset to FIGURES 1 and lA in particular. The general organization ofthe drawbench includes a supporting frame 10, having a die 12 secured atone end into which workstock W is positioned prior to being engaged by adrawbench carriage 14. Drawbench carriage 14 traverses the length of thedrawbench as delimited by the drawbench chains 26 and draws the stock Wthrough the die 12 in order to provide the necessary reduction in theoriginal size of the stock, all of which is old and well understood bythose versed in the prior art. Also mounted on the drawbench frame 10are pairs of driven idler sprockets 18 and drive sprockets 20 (see alsoFIGURE 9), sprockets 18 being mounted for rotation in a vertical planeat the left end of the drawbench frame shown in FIGURE 1, but inboard ofthe die suliicient to provide space for the length of a carriage and acarriage connecting rod, as will be described more fully hereinafter.Sprockets 20 (see also FIGURE 4) are mounted for rotation in a verticalplane at the extreme right end of the drawbench frame as shown in FIGURE1A, and are driven by pinions 22 and bull gears 24. The sprocket members1S and 20 support the aforesaid pair of drawchains 26 for rotation invertical planes to cornprise upper and lower ilights 28 and 30.

A first or lower set of tracks 32 (see FIGURE 2) is supported alonghorizontal frame portion 10 to provide traverse means for carriages 14and 14A on the level of the drawbench die 12 and substantially along theentire length of the drawbench. A second or upper set of tracks 34 ispositioned inboard of the sprockets 18 and 20 as shown in FIGURES 1 and1A, and is of arcuate con- `figuration. The mid-portion 36 of the tracksbeing arcuately remote `from the lirst or lower tracks 32. The curvatureof the upper set of tracks at its mid-portion is such that a pair ofcarriages 14 and 14A, one being traversed on the lower tracks and thesecond being traversed in the opposite direction on the upper tracks,will not interfere one with the other. It will be noted that theopposite ends 38 and 40 of the upper set of tracks 34 are also spacedvertically apart from the lower tracks 32 suflicient to permit acarriage to pass therebeneath.

Referring now to FIGURES 5, 6, and 7, it will be obsecond pair of links55 is pivotally secured at opposite i ends to the lirst pair of links 52and to a pair of lever arms 58 respectively. The pair of lever arms 58is rigidly secured to a pair of connecting rods 60l pivotally secured toopposite sides of the carriage 14 by pins 62 and to the drawchains 26 bymeans of a drawchain cross-rod 64 (see FIGURE 2).

The upper wheels 44 are shown in FIGURE 5 in two positions, Le., raisedand lowered, their position depending on the angularity of theconnecting rods 60. Thus, assuming the direction of rotation of the,drawchains 26 to be as indicated by the arrow on sprocket I8 in FIG- URE1, then as the carriage is drawn from left to right, the connecting rods60 will be substantially horizontal, and levers SS in association withconnecting links 52 and 56 will maintain the upper wheels 44 on brackets46 and in a lowered position as shown by the phantom outline in FIGURE5. In this position, the carriage overall height is reduced sufficientlyto pass beneath upper track ends 38 and 40. However, as the carriagereaches the right end of the drawbench as shown in FIGURE 1A, the endsof the connecting rods 60 connected to the drawchains 26 are inclinedupwardly causing the upper wheels 44 of the carriage 14 to be projectedinto an upstanding position sufficient to engage the ends 40 of uppertracks 34. Tracks 34 then guide the carriage 14 upwardly above the lowertracks 3% until, at the mid-point 36 of the tracks 34, sufficientclearance is gained to permit a second carriage to pass therebeneathmoving from left to right as the upper carriage moves from right toleft. In this manner, a pair of carriages 14 and 14A can be continuouslyin operation without interfering one with the other, and by means whichare simple, and reliable.

As the carriage 14 reaches the end of its traverse shown in FIGURE 1A,the workstock gripping means release the workstock at the same time thatthe opposite ends of the workstock are released from the die 12. Themeans for gripping and releasing workstock associated with the carriageI-tand die l2 is old and does not therefore constitute a portion of thisinvention. However, experience has taught that the sudden release oftension in drawn workstock sometimes results in whiplashing of the stockwhich is difficult to control and sometimes results in spoiled stock anddamaged equipment. To alleviate this condition, anti-recoil devices 70are stationed beneath the frame itl as is shown more clearly in FIGURES2, 3, and 9. At spaced intervals along the underside of the drawbench,J-shaped stock intercepting means 72 are supported on an ejector plate74 and pivotally secured to the frame on rod 76. A fluid motor 78 issecured at one end d to the frame and at the opposite end 82 to a leverarm 84 rigidly secured to the cross rod 76. When the fluid motor isenergized, its piston 86 pivots the lever arm 34 causing the V-shapedworkstock intercepting means 72 to rotate forwardly 90 as shown inphantom in FIGURE 10. The intercepting means 72 remain in the verticalposition while the stock is being drawn, and to guide the stock into theintercepting means at the completion of the draw, guide members 88 aresecured to the V-members 72 to provide positive direction of the stockdownwardly into the V-receptacles. The workstock guide members 38 areresilient and project upwardly into the path of the carriage I4 and aredeflected downwardly as the carriage passes thereover. After the stock Wdrops into the V-receptacles 72, the fluid motors 78 are then energizedto pivot the receptacles counter-clockwise 90 as seen in FIGURE lO. Thismovement of receptacles 72 in combination with ejector plate 74 ejectsthe stock from receptacles 72 after it has been brought to restwhereinafter the stock will roll along the inclined edge i5 of ejectorplate 74 and then onto the sloping surace 96 of table 91 (see FIGURE 3)to one side of the drawbench.

While the invention shown and described is illustrative of a typicalembodiment thereof, it will become evident that the invention issusceptible of other forms, and that the typical embodiment shown hereinis by way of example only and is not to be construed in a limitingsense. For instance, it is contemplated that the relative trackpositions may be reversed whereby the returning carriage passes beneathinstead of above the work drawing carriage as shown. Other anti-recoilshifting means are also contemplated. For instance, as shown in FIGURE12, a set of V-shaped crotches 72 are mounted on a supporting arm 100pivotally secured to a frame member 102, and actuated by an air cylinder104. A suitable slot 106 is provided in the table surface of theinclined table 91 to permit the crotches to be pivoted below the tablesurface 90 whereby the workstock will be intercepted by the tablesurface and carried toone side of the drawbench.

Yet another arrangement for ejecting stock from the A'-shaped crotches72 is illustrated in FIGURES 13 and 14. `In this embodiment of the stockejecting means, the ll-shaped crotches are supported on an upstandingcarrier bracket 168 pivotally secured to base member lugs 110 of theframe 10. An air cylinder 112 pivots the carrier longitudinally withrespect to the drawbench as opposed to the transverse pivotal movementillustrated in FIG- URE 12. In this embodiment, longitudinal slots mustbe provided in the table surface 90 so as to enable the crotch membersto clear the surface of the table.

rIhe advantage of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 12 resides in the factthat less clearance space is necessary in the` table surface 99 toprovide for movement of the V-crotch members above and below the surfacetable than required by the longitudinally moving V-crotch members inFEGURES 13 and 14.

The advantage of the device illustrated in FIGURES 13 and 14 resides inthe fact that certain compensating positioning of the stock is providedby longitudinal movement of the crotches. Otherwise stated, due to themomentum of the forward motion of the stock as it leaves the die, thestock will continue to travel forwardly up to ten feet depending, ofcourse, on the length of the stock, its initial speed, its mass, and allof the other usual considerations. However, this forward motion may, incertain circumstances, be sufficient to project the forward end of thestock into a position which would present problems of interference ingetting the stock to roll to one side of the drawbench, for instance, anupstanding frame supporting leg or the like may interfere with theforward end of the stock. With the device shown in FIGURES 13 and 14,pivotally moving the V-crotches from right to left as oriented withrespect to the drawbeuch as shown in the figures, would tend to reshiftthe stock rearwardly so as to clear any potential obstructions which thefront end of the stock may have encountered.

Yet another embodiment contemplates a combination of the arrangementsshown in FIGURES 12, 13, and 14 wherein certain of the V-crotches wouldbe mounted for transverse pivotal movement, and other V-crotch memberswould be mounted for longitudinal pivotal movement, thus combining theadvantages of both arrangements.

Still other arrangements and modifications will occur to those skilledin the art upon a reading of this specification taken in conjunctionwith the drawings, and other arrangements may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. In a drawbench of the class described including a carriage, endlessdrawchain means having longitudinally extending upper and lower flights,means to continuously rotate said drawchain means uni-directionally, andtrack means to support said carriage, the improvement comprising: afirst track extending longitudinally adjacent to and in the samehorizontal plane as one of said drawchain flights; a secondlongitudinally extending track positioned between said drawchain upperand lower ights; a first set of wheels journaled on said carriage andadapted to engage said first track; a second set of wheels journaled onsaid carriage and vertically shiftable to engage said second track; andmeans to vertically shift said second set of wheels responsive to theposition of said carriage relative to said drawchain means.

2. In a drawbench of the class described including a carriage, endlessdrawchain means having longitudinally extending upper and lower ilights,means to continuously rotate said drawchain uni-directionally, and trackmeans to support said carriage, the improvement comprising: a iirsttrack extending longitudinally adjacent to and in the same horizontalplane as one of said dra-wchain iiights; a second longitudinallyextending track vertically positioned between said drawchain upper andlower ights, said second track being arcuately shaped with its oppositeends adjacent said one of said flights and with its midsection remotefrom said one of said nights; a tirst set of wheels journaled on saidcarriage and adapted to support said carriage on said rst track; asecond set of wheels journaled on said carriage and vertically shiftableto engage said second track; and means to vertically shift said secondset of wheels responsive to the position of said carriage relative tosaid drawchain.

3. ln a drawbench of the class described including a carriage,longitudinally extending endless drawchain means having upper and lowerflights rotatable in a vertical plane, and track means to support saidcarriage, the improvement comprising: a first track extending adjacentto and in the same horizontal plane as the lower of said dran/chainflights; a second track vertically positioned and longitudinallyextending between said drawchain upper and lower flights, said secondtrack being arcuately shaped with its opposite ends linboard of the endsof said first track, and with its mid-section arcuately remote from saidfirst track; a rst set of wheels journaled on said carriage adapted tosupport said carriage on said rst track; a second set of wheelsjournaled on said carriage and vertically shiftable to engage saidsecond track; pivotal connecting rod means between said carriage andsaid drawchain; and second wheel set shifting means connected betweensaid pivotal connecting rod means and said second set of wheels adaptedto shift said second set of wheels responsive to pivotal movement ofsaid connecting rod means.

4. The drawbench set forth in claim 3, wherein said second set of wheelsare journaled on bracket means pivotally secured to said carriage; andconnecting link means between said bracket means and said connecting rodmeans responsive to pivotal movement of said connecting rod means toshift said bracket means.

5. In a drawbench of the class described including a drawbench frame, acarriage, endless drawchain means having upper and lower ilights, andtrack means to support said carriage, the improvement comprising: afirst track extending adjacent to and in the same horizontal plane asone of said drawchain tlights; a second track positioned between saiddrawchain upper and lower flights, said second track being arcuatelyshaped with its opposite ends inboard of the ends of said rst track, andwith its mid-section remote from said rst track; lirst set of wheelsjournaled on said carriage and adapted to support said carriage on saidrst track; bracket means pivotally secured to said carriage; a secondset of wheels journaled on said bracket means; connecting rod meanspivotally secured between said carriage and said drawchain means; andconnecting link means pivotally secured between said bracket and saidconnecting rod means, said connecting link means being adapted to pivotsaid bracket responsive to pivotal movement of said connecting rodmeans.

6. The drawbench set forth in claim 5, wherein said bracket meanscomprises: pairs of arms pivotally secured to opposite sides of saidcarriage; drag link means pivotally interconnecting said pairs of arms;and toggle-connecting link means between said drag link means and saidconnecting rod means.

7. In a drawbench of the class described, including a drawbench frame, acarriage, longitudinally extending endless drawchain means having upperand lower flights adapted to rotate continuously in one direction,sprocket means supporting said drawchain means at opposite ends thereof,and track means to support said carriage, the improvement comprising: arst track longitudinally eX- tending adjacent to and in the samehorizontal plane as the lower of said draw chain tlights; a secondlongitudinally extending track positioned between said drawchain upperand lower ilights, said second track being arcuately shaped with itsopposite ends inboard of the ends of said tirst track, and spaced toprovide carriage clearance between said tracks; a rst set of wheelsjournaled on said carriage and adapted to support said carriage on saidfirst track; bracket means pivotally secured to said carriage; a secondset of wheels journaled on said bracket means; connecting rod meanspivotally secured between said carriage and said drawchain means; andconnecting link means pivotally secured between said bracket and saidconnecting rod means, said connecting rod means being adapted to pivotsaid bracket vertically in the direction of pivotal movement of saidconnecting rod as it is carried respectively about the periphery of eachsprocket means by said draw chain means, whereby said second set ofwheels are pivoted into engagement with one end of said second track,and are adapted to be pivoted out of engagement with said second trackat the opposite end thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS977,119 Mitchell Nov. 29, 1910 1,416,589 Wallace May 16, 1922 1,672,092Russell June 5, 1928 2,320,739 Knudsen et al June l, 1943 2,391,908Knudsen et a1. Ian. 1, 1946 2,596,340 Mahns Mar. 13, 1952 2,630,910Turner Mar. 10, 1953 2,781,002 Talboys Feb. 12, 1957 2,837,206 McllvriedJune 3, 1958 2,873,849 Lombard Feb. 7, 1959

